BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 908
89R3292 EAS-D	By: Spiller; Lalani (Zaffirini)
	Criminal Justice
	4/4/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

There are issues concerning the reporting of missing children and the gaps in existing procedures that may delay recovery efforts. While law enforcement agencies are required to enter missing child information into state and federal databases, there is no explicit mandate for them to report cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This omission can result in inconsistent reporting and hinder the mobilization of national resources dedicated to locating missing children.

H.B. 908 would require law enforcement agencies to report missing children to NCMEC within two hours of receiving a report. By incorporating this requirement into existing missing persons procedures, the bill would strengthen collaboration between law enforcement agencies and national resources, enhancing the effectiveness of child recovery efforts.

H.B. 908 amends current law relating to the reporting by law enforcement agencies of missing children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 63.00905(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by Chapter 729 (H.B. 2660), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, as follows:

(a) Requires a law enforcement agency, regardless of the jurisdiction in which the child went missing, on receiving a report of a missing child, to perform certain tasks, including immediately, but not later than two hours after the agency receives the report, entering the applicable information into certain systems, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.�

SECTION 2. Repealer: Article 63.00905(a) (relating to requiring a law enforcement agency, on receiving a report of a missing child, to perform certain actions), Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by Chapter 979 (S.B. 2429), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.